When the JazzHappensBand returns “(Back Home Again) in Indiana,” the seven musicians turn a warm homecoming into a hot happening. First, trumpeter Jeff Dovi (pronounced
‘Oh! Didn’t He Ramble!’ Tom Jacobsen, the author of three important studies of contemporary New Orleans jazz, died Jan. 15, at his home in St.
Nat Hentoff told his readers early on: “I was introduced to jazz, and that’s become a basic concern and passion of mine ever since.” Hentoff’s
In the month supposedly reserved for New Year resolutions, I prefer to look back forty years to an as yet unrealized resolution from the 1970s.
As a natural sequel to last month’s column, I traveled to Pittsburgh to interview ragtime pianist and Rivermont Records owner Bryan Wright at his home.
In the history of jazz, people who do not play instruments do as much, in different ways, to sustain the art without getting equal credit.
James Hubert Blake was born February 7, 1887 in Baltimore, Maryland. Eubie was the sole surviving child of former slaves, and showed musical aptitude in
To the Editor: Many thanks for the fantastic article you penned and published regarding Dan Levinson’ Roof Garden Jass Band celebrating the centenary of the
One of the little-noted casualties of the Social Media revolution is our fluency in composing a simple and heartfelt message of condolence. The Victorians were
This is The Festival Roundup as printed in our February 2017 issue, the most recent roundup can be found in our menu. To include your
Pianist Bob Pilsbury celebrated his 90th birthday on Dec. 28. A founding member of the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, and for more than four
I’ll be 40 soon. I’m not shy to admit it. All things considered, things are going pretty well so far. For starters, I’ve outlived Hendrix,
Cartoon by Clare Briggs, from The Philadelphia Evening Ledger, November 25, 1919 (Facebook image courtesy Ron Evry; ronevry.com)
Drummer Hal Smith reports that he is on the mend following an automobile accident and is looking forward to getting back on the bandstand. He
On Sunday, February 26 at 7 PM, Dr. David Kosmyna will lead The Centennial Dixieland Jass Band (CDJB) an ensemble created to celebrate the 100th
Voters in the third annual JazzBuffalo Poll chose the Fredtown Stompers as the Queen City’s best traditional jazz group. More than 2,200 ballots were cast.
Back in the 1970s, early days of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society when the musicians’ union was stronger, STJS Exec Director Bill Borcher Made a
Making the World Safe for Autocracy (Feb. 16, 1996) There is delight in dismantling a beautiful machine. Each screw unscrewed, never to be rescrewed. Lordy,
A year has passed since I launched (as if by slingshot) the first issue of The Syncopated Times into the world. I may safely say
In 2006, Dan Cohen, a New York social worker, was struck with a simple thought: If he ever ended up in a nursing home, he
Although Jelly Roll Morton did not invent jazz, he was certainly one of its early innovators. His distinctive piano playing developed as early as 1905-10
While 2017 is being celebrated as the centennial of jazz’s first recordings, it is also the 100th anniversary of Scott Joplin’s death. The ragtime era,
An excellent swing trumpeter with a warm sound and a melodic improvising style, Danny Tobias is best-known for his association with the Midiri Brothers although
While jazz was born in the United States, it has been an international music ever since the recordings of the ODJB were heard overseas. While
Guitarist-banjoist Glenn Crytzer had two causes in mind when he organized That New Old Sound. He wanted to release a CD whose proceeds would go
There’s a saying, “Any book is new until you’ve read it.” This could apply to recordings as well. Here’s a CD from
I was impressed immediately with this book’s physical presence. It’s hefty, and
This is the second book of juvenile fiction by author Mick Carlon.
Author of this book, David Hajdu, is a professor of journalism at
DAVID SHEPHERD, 87, on Dec. 15 in Hampshire, England. Often billed as Great Britain’s answer to Benny Goodman because of his instrumental facility, centered tone
JUANITA GREENWOOD FREDERICKSON, 81, from cancer on Dec. 9 in Portland, Oregon. Produced the annual Summit Jazz event for 38 years, beginning in Breckenridge, Colorado
NATHAN “Nat” HENTOFF, 91, of natural causes on Jan. 7 in New York City. Author, journalist, jazz critic and civil libertarian, Hentoff wrote for the
LOUIS “Buddy” BREGMAN, 86, on Jan. 8 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease in Los Angeles, CA. An arranger, composer and producer who worked with many
ARMANDO “Buddy” GRECO, 90, on Jan. 10 at Las Vegas. Born in Philadelphia, Buddy Greco sang on the radio when he was 4 and began
Vol.2, No.2 February 2017
Paris Washboard Brings Home the Heat, by Andy Senior
Musical Therapy for Memory Loss, by Lew Shaw
“Oh, Didn’t He Ramble!”, Remembering Tom Jacobson, by Russ Tarby
Aloha Rich Conaty, by Michael Steinman
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Eubie Blake, illustration by Gary Price
I’m Sorry for Our Loss, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Lew Shaw
Nat Hentoff: Jazz’s Ultimate Commentator, by Lew Shaw
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
An interview with Bryan Wright of Rivermont Records, by Bill Hoffman
Festival Roundup, compiled by Russ Tarby
Missouri Musical Heritage Trail Proposed, by Larry Melton
On Turning 40, by Adrian Cunningham
The Syncopated Bookshelf, reviews by Joe Bebco and F. Norman Vickers
The Art of the Blues: A Treasury of Black Music’s Golden Age
Travels with Louis by Mick Carlon
Trumpeter Jeff Dovi helms a Dixie-driven septet in Cortland. N.Y. Concert Review by Russ Tarby
Adrian Cunningham: Ain’t That Right! The Music of Neal Hefti, Review by F. Norman Vickers
Nights at the Turntable, CD Reviews by Scott Yanow
Ohio CDJB Celebrates 100th Anniversary of ODJB, by Andy Senior
How Did the STJS Rent Party Get Started?, by Bob Ringwald
Fredtown Stompers Win JazzBuffalo Award, by Russ Tarby
Drummer Hal Smith Expected to Return to Bandstand, by Lew Shaw
Wonder What a Certain Dog Thinks About (cartoon) by Clare Briggs
“Making the World Safe for Autocracy” (poem), by Andy Senior
The Middle-Aged Man on the Syncopated PC, by Andy Senior
Sailing by the Seat of One’s Pants (essay) Andy Senior